**Zhang Youxia, former vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission and a longtime Xi Jinping ally, was placed under formal investigation in late January 2026 for “serious violations of discipline and law,” the standard Chinese phrasing for corruption and related offenses.** Reports also referenced allegations of leaking nuclear secrets and bribery tied to promotions. He was removed from his posts and entered state custody, but as of mid-June 2026 no formal court sentencing has occurred. Chinese anti-corruption proceedings against senior PLA figures typically involve extended internal party investigations, disciplinary actions, and only later possible criminal trials. Precedents such as the 2023 investigations of former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, who received suspended death sentences (equivalent to life imprisonment) only in May 2026, illustrate multi-year timelines even for high-profile cases. With roughly six months remaining until the market’s December 31, 2026 cutoff, the absence of any reported trial or verdict supports traders’ strong consensus that a formal prison sentence is unlikely within the window. Ongoing military purges and PLA Daily editorials have reinforced Xi’s authority and zero-tolerance messaging without accelerating public judicial outcomes for Zhang. Structural factors—including the seniority of the target, the need for internal consensus, and procedural norms—further reduce the near-term probability of court sentencing.